El Paso County commissioners approve rezoning request that would allow 300- to 700-unit apartment complex

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- For the second time in two weeks, residents in the Black Forest area are opposing a proposed housing development but the project cleared its first hurdle Tuesday.

The owner of 31 acres west of the intersection of Vollmer Road and Tahiti Drive asked El Paso County commissioners Tuesday for a zoning change that would allow the construction of as many as 700 apartment units.

The number of units is based on a category of moderate-density zoning that permits 30 units per acre; the project's planner said that only 23.7 of the 31.4 total acres can be developed.

Commissioners unanimously approved the re-zoning, saying that the request meets all requirements of the county's long-range master plan.

"This area is growing," said Andrea Barlow, of N.E.S., Inc., the project's designer and planner. "The growth is recognized in the master plan and supported by the master plan. It's identified as an area of new development, priority development that is intended to support the growth of the county."

That echoes remarks by commissioners prior to the vote.

"This is a property and a place that is changing very rapidly in our community, and does leave me to believe that it's appropriate and does meet our criteria," said Commissioner Carrie Geitner.

Commissioner Stan VanderWerf said that the project would help meet the strong demand for affordable housing.

"It's good for the citizens there to have a mix of housing, and this includes smaller housing that's more affordable for some people who might not be working at a job where they can afford a larger home," he said.

The proposed site is bordered by existing homes to the north, south and west and is across Vollmer Road from the new Sterling Ranch subdivision where dozens of homes are being built.

Tuesday's vote was only the first step in the process but if the project receives final approval, the developer also will build part of a planned extension of Marksheffel Road -- just north of the property --that will eventually connect to Black Forest Road and a planned extension of Briargate Parkway.

Additionally, the site is just south of a proposed 450-unit housing project which the developer will resubmit for consideration to the county's planning commission Thursday, after hearing concerns from neighbors.

Those concerns -- increased density and traffic, and availability of water -- were also being expressed by opponents during a public hearing at Tuesday's meeting.

"Why would you want an apartment complex in the middle of a community of single-family homes?" asked neighbor Tom Martin. "It's out of place and doesn't belong. In my lifetime, I would have never even (considered) the fact that you (would) put an apartment complex anywhere near Black Forest."

Another neighbor, Deborah Rice said that she's worried about a quarry located just west of the site that's owned by the same landowner.

"There are no plans for it right now," she explained. "It's a great big hole. There was a homeless camp there before, and people dump mattresses and other stuff there. We've called the sheriff's office about it."

Doug Halverson, who also lives in the area, asked commissioners for honesty and straight answers.

"The developer implied that this is going to happen, no matter what," he said. "I think it rubbed the community the wrong way. If this is a rubber stamp for apartment complexes. If that's true, just let us know. Help us understand."

Commissioners will have to approve other steps of the project before it's finalized.